Cold Weather Food Recipes – Be in the Know

Cold weather camping recipes are sometimes hard to find because most of the recipes out there are meant for cooking in a warm kitchen. Here are some recipes that will work well when camping in cold weather.

BREAKFAST – Cold Weather Food Recipes

Oatmeal

This is a great breakfast food for camping in cold weather because it is filling and warming. You can make oatmeal on the campfire by bringing water to a boil, adding oats, and stirring until thick. If you want some added flavor, you can add raisins, brown sugar, or cinnamon.

Ingredients

• Serving Size: 6-8
• 2 1/4 cups rolled oats
• 1 tsp salt
• 6 cups water (3 quarts)

Directions

Mix the dry ingredients in a 5-gallon bucket. Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in your dutch oven. Add the boiling water to the dry mix in the bucket, stir well until all ingredients are incorporated. Cover with lid or aluminum foil and let sit for 10 minutes. Stir again before serving. Serves 6-8 people.

Eggs

Another great breakfast option for cold weather camping is eggs. You can either fry them over the campfire or make them into an omelet. For variety, you can add different vegetables, cheese, or meats to your eggs.

Ingredients

• Serving Size: 6-8
• 6-8 eggs
• 1/2 cup chopped vegetables (onion, green pepper, tomatoes, etc.)
• 1/4 cup shredded cheese
• 1/4 cup diced ham, bacon, or sausage
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Whisk the eggs in a bowl. Add the vegetables, cheese, and meat. Season with salt and pepper. Pour mixture into a greased 12″ dutch oven lid. Place lid on bottom of dutch oven. Place 8 coals on top and cook for 10 minutes or until eggs are set. Serves 6-8 people.

Cast Iron Chili and Cornbread

This chili recipe is perfect for a cold winter day camping. The cast iron will help to keep the chili warm all day.

Ingredients

• Serving Size: 6-8
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• A clove of garlic, minced
• A can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 15 oz corn, drained
• A tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Toppings: Shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, etc.

Directions

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook beef, onion, and garlic until beef is browned. Drain any excess fat. Add tomatoes, black beans, corn, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, etc. Serves 6-8 people.

LUNCH – Cold Weather Food Recipes

Tuna Salad Sandwiches

This is a simple and easy lunch to make while camping in cold weather. You can either prepare the tuna salad ahead of time or make it on-site.

Ingredients

• Serving Size: 4
• 1 can tuna, drained
• 1/4 cup mayo
• 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
• 1 tsp yellow mustard
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 sandwich buns, split and toasted

Directions

In a bowl, mix together tuna, mayo, relish, mustard, celery, onion, salt, and pepper. Toast the buns and fill with tuna salad. Serves 4.

Campfire Quesadillas

Quesadillas are a quick and easy lunch to make while camping in cold weather. You can use any combination of meats, vegetables, and cheeses that you like.

Ingredients

• Serving Size: 6
• 1/2 cup of chopped cooked chicken
• Some shredded cheddar cheese
• Chopped cooked ham
• 1/2 cup refried beans
• 6 flour tortillas

Directions

In a bowl, mix together chicken, cheese, ham, refried beans. Place 1/4 of the mixture on each tortilla. Fold tortillas in half and place on greased skillet over medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Serves 6.

Soup

There are many different types of soup recipes that will work well for cold weather camping. Just bring the ingredients to a boil over the campfire, let it simmer for about 20 minutes, and serve hot. It is important to make sure all the ingredients cook long enough to prevent bacteria from making you sick.

Bean or Pea Soup

Bring dried or canned beans and peas (or possibly leftover vegetables) to a boil in water over your campfire and then add spices such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc. Let it simmer for at least 30 minutes to ensure all the ingredients cook well enough not to make you sick.

DINNER – Cold Weather Food Recipes

Roasted Meat and Potatoes

This is a great dinner idea to use while camping in cold weather. Roasting your meat and vegetables on a stick will leave you with a delicious, moist meal. You can use any type of meat or vegetable that you like.

Ingredients

• Meat: 2lbs
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Marinate the roast overnight in 1/4 cup of oil, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons rosemary leaves (crushed), salt and pepper. The next day make sure all excess marinade is removed from the roast before placing in a roasting pan. Cook for one hour in a hot oven (400 degrees F), then lower the temperature to 350 degrees F and cook for another 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Roasted Vegetables

It is a favorite camping dinner recipe for anyone who adores vegetables.

Ingredients

• Potatoes, peeled and quartered (5-6 potatoes)
• Onion, cut in half (1 onion)
• Carrots, cut into 2-3 inch pieces (4 carrots)
• Celery stalks, cut into 2-3 inch pieces (4 stalks celery)
• Green bell peppers, cut into 1/2 rings or squares (12 peppers)

Directions

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add some olive oil on top of vegetables to help them get moist during roasting. Place all vegetables on a roasting pan and cook for 1 1/2 hours at 400 degrees F, then lower the temperature to 375 degrees F and cook for another 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Campfire Stew

Most people tend to prepare beef stew when camping in cold weather because it is a staple comfort food. You can even make hamburger patties from scratch over the campfire to go with your beef stew adding an extra punch of protein.

Ingredients

• A pound of lean ground beef or ground turkey  (optional)
• 1-2 green bell pepper, chopped (optional)
• 1 onion, chopped(optional)
• 3-4 medium red potatoes diced into cubes (about 2 cups worth)  (optional)
• 3-5 carrots, sliced into thin coins (optional)
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 beef bouillon cube
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil leaves
• Fresh ground black pepper to taste
• Water, as needed (approximately 2 cups)

Directions

In a large pot cook beef (or turkey) over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat and add chopped green bell pepper, onion, and potatoes. Cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add carrots, tomatoes with juice, bouillon cube, thyme, basil, and black pepper. Add enough water to cover the ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to and simmer for 1-2 hours. Enjoy!

Sausage and Potato Stew

This hearty stew is perfect for a cold winter day camping. The sausage and potatoes will help to warm you up from the inside out.

Ingredients

• Serving Size: 6-8
• 1 lb sausage, cut into 1″ pieces
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• A clove of garlic, minced
• 3 cups diced potatoes
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tsp dried thyme leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a large dutch oven over medium heat, cook sausage, onion, and garlic until sausage is browned. Add potatoes, beef broth, thyme, sal andt pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes. Enjoy!

Fish in Beer Batter

This fish and chips is a perfect way to break out of your normal camping dinner routine.  You can substitute the cod with any type of whitefish such as tilapia, halibut or even perch, which are all great options for this recipe.  You can find beer batter recipes online but we recommend making your own if you like it spicy.

Ingredients

• 4-6 fillets (cod, halibut, etc.)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 12 ounce bottle of beer (not dark)
• Oil for frying (peanut and vegetable oil work best)

Directions

Salt and pepper to taste Directions: Mix eggs and 1/4 cup of beer in a medium bowl. Salt both sides of the fish fillets with your desired amount of salt and pepper. Place flour in a medium bowl. If you are using self-rising flour make sure it is self-rising (normal all purpose flour will not work for this recipe). Dip fish into egg mixture and then place immediately into the flour mixture coating both sides.

Repeat until all fillets have been covered by the flour mixture. In a large pot pour enough oil to cover half of your fish if it is laying flat on the bottom of the pan (about 2″ worth of oil). Heat oil on medium high heat until hot but not smoking (if it starts smoking turn down your burner slightly). Gently place coated fillets into frying pan and cook for about 4 minutes per side or until golden brown. Place cooked fillets on a paper towel lined plate to absorb any excess oil. Serve with tartar sauce, lemon wedges and your favorite sides. Enjoy!

Honey Barbequed Ribs

Ribs are a classic camping food and this barbeque sauce will make them even more delicious. You can either use baby back ribs or pork country-style ribs for this recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 rack of baby back ribs or pork country-style ribs
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 3 tbsp honey
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a small bowl combine ketchup, apple cider vinegar, honey, garlic, smoked paprika, onion powder, and chili powder. In a separate bowl, season the ribs with salt and pepper. Place the seasoned ribs on a baking sheet covered in aluminum foil or use a large roasting pan instead. Using a pastry brush smear a coat of the barbeque sauce onto the ribs on both sides. Bake for approximately 2 hours until meat is tender and can be pulled apart easily using tongs (if you cut into one of the thicker parts to check if it is done make sure it has reached 160 degrees F). Remove from oven and serve as desired (we like ours with baked beans and coleslaw). Enjoy!

S’mores

There is no better way to end a cold winter day than with a warm s’more by the campfire.

Ingredients

• Marshmallows, graham crackers, Hershey’s chocolate bars

Directions

Roast marshmallows over the fire until they are golden brown. Place them on top of a graham cracker, top with a piece of a chocolate bar, and another graham cracker. Enjoy!

There are plenty of other great food options for camping in cold weather. Just use your imagination and you can come up with some delicious dishes that will keep you warm and satisfied.

Camping in cold weather can be just as much fun as camping in the summertime, you just need to be prepared with the right food and most importantly your first aid kit.

Now that you have some great ideas for food to prepare while camping in cold weather, get out there and enjoy the winter wonderland! Be sure to pack your rucksack the right way before leaving the house!